Confusion and Hallucination in a Geriatric Patient. Pitfalls of a Rare Differential: Case Report of an Anti-LGI1-Encephalitis.

Background: Confusion and hallucinations in geriatric patients are frequent symptoms and typically associated with delirium, late-life psychosis or dementia syndromes. A far rarer but well-established differential in patients with rapid cognitive deterioration, acute psychosis, abnormal movements and seizures is autoimmune encephalitis. Exemplified by our case we highlight clinical and economic problems arising in management of geriatric patients with cognitive decline and psychotic symptoms. Case Presentation: A 77-year-old female caucasian patient with an unremarkable medical history was hospitalized after a fall in association with diarrhea and hyponatremia. Upon adequate therapy, disorientation and troubled short-term memory persisted. Within a week the patient developed visual hallucinations. Basic blood and urine samples and imaging (cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) were unremarkable. With progressive cognitive decline, amnestic impairment, word finding difficulty and general apathy, psychiatric and neurologic expertise was introduced. Advanced diagnostics did not resolve a final diagnosis; an electroencephalogram showed unspecific generalized slowing. Extended clinical observation revealed visual hallucinations and faciobrachial dystonic seizures. A treatment with anticonvulsants was initiated. Cerebrospinal fluid ultimately tested positive for voltage-gated potassium channel LGl1 (leucine-rich-inactivated-1) antibodies confirming diagnosis of autoimmune anti-LGI1 encephalitis. Immediate immunotherapy (high-dose glucocorticoids and administration of intravenous immunoglobulin G) led to a rapid improvement of the patient's condition. After immunotherapy was tapered, the patient had one relapse and completely recovered with reintroduction of glucocorticoids and initiation of therapy with rituximab. Conclusion: Rapidly progressive dementia in geriatric patients demands a structured and multidisciplinary diagnostic approach. Accurate management and financially supportable care is a major issue in rare diseases such as anti-LGI1-encephalitis. Education and awareness about autoimmune encephalitis of all physicians treating a geriatric population is important in order to involve expertise and establish treatment within reasonable time.

A young man presenting with encephalopathy and seizures secondary to SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 has now emerged from a respiratory illness to a systemic viral illness with multisystem involvement. There is still a lot to learn about this illness as new disease associations with COVID-19 emerge consistently. We present a unique case of a neurological manifestation of a patient with structural brain disease who was COVID-19 positive and developed mental status changes, new-onset seizures and findings suggestive of viral meningitis on lumbar puncture. We also review the literature and discuss our case in the context of the other cases reported. We highlight the value of considering seizures and encephalopathy as one of the presenting features of COVID-19 disease.

Confusional state in a pregnant woman: A case of NMDA receptor encephalitis during pregnancy.

We report the case of a pregnant female presenting with behavioral change and hallucinations followed by focal seizures with impaired awareness. EEG revealed generalized slowing interspersed with extreme delta-brush pattern and MRI brain was normal. Both Serum and CSF anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies were positive. Patient had a prolonged hospital stay with full recovery and delivered a healthy baby, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis and management in this disorder.

Acute kidney injury and other factors associated with mortality in hiv-infected patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: HIV-related mortality is still high, especially in developed countries. The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated to death in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with all HIV adult patients admitted to a tertiary infectious diseases hospital in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil, from January 2013 to December 2014. Patients were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. Demo-graphical, clinical and laboratory data were compared and a logistic regression was performed in order to investigate risk factors for death. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients with mean age of 39 years were including in the study, 69.5% males. Fifteen patients (7.5%) died. Non-survivors presented a higher percentage of males (93.3 vs. 67.3%, p = 0.037). Non-survivors presented AKI (73.3 vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001), liver dysfunction (33.3 vs. 11.5, p = 0.031), dyspnea (73.3 vs. 33.0%, p = 0.002) and disorientation (33.3 vs. 12.4%, p = 0.025) more frequently. Non-survivors also had higher levels of urea (73.8 ± 52.7vs. 36.1 ± 29.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001), creatinine (1.98 ± 1.65 vs. 1.05 ± 1.07 mg/dL, p < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (130.8 vs. 84.8 U/L, p = 0.03), alanine aminotransferase (115.6 vs. 85.4 U/L, p = 0.045) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (1208 vs. 608 U/L, p = 0.012), as well as lower levels of bicarbonate (18.0 ± 4.7 vs. 21.6 ± 4.6 mEq/L, p = 0.016) and PCO2 (27.8 ± 7.7 vs. 33.0 ± 9.3 mmHg, p = 0.05). In multivariate analysis, disorientation (p = 0.035, OR = 5.523, 95%CI = 1.130 - 26.998), dyspnoea (p = 0.046, OR = 4.064, 95%CI = 1.028 - 16.073), AKI (p < 0.001, OR = 18.045, 95%CI = 4.308 - 75.596) and disseminated histoplasmosis (p = 0.016, OR = 12.696, 95%CI = 1.618 - 99.646) and LDH > 1000 U/L (p = 0.038, OR = 4.854, 95%CI = 1.093 - 21.739) were risk factors for death.]CONCLUSION: AKI and disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) were the main risk factors for death in the studied population. Neurologic and respiratory impairment as well as higher levels of LDH also increased mortality in HIV-infected patients.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: A mortalidade relacionada ao HIV ainda é alta, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar os fatores associados ao óbito em pacientes com HIV. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com todos os pacientes com HIV admitidos consecutivamente em um hospital terciário de doenças infecciosas em Fortaleza, Nordeste do Brasil, entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2014. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: sobreviventes e não sobreviventes. Dados demográficos, clínicos e laboratoriais foram comparados e análise de regressão logística foi feita para investigação dos fatores de risco para óbito. RESULTADOS: Um total de 200 pacientes, com média de idade de 39 anos, foi incluído no estudo, sendo 69,5% do sexo masculino. Óbito ocorreu em 15 pacientes (7,5%). Os não sobreviventes apresentaram maior percentual de homens (93,3 vs. 67,3%, p = 0,037) e um menor tempo de internação (8 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 15 dias, p = 0,005). Na análise multivariada, desorientação (p = 0,035, OR = 5,523), dispneia (p = 0,046, OR = 4,064), LRA (p < 0,001, OR = 18,045), histoplasmose disseminada (p = 0,016, OR = 12,696) e desidrogenase lática (LDH) > 1.000 U/L (p = 0,038, OR = 4,854) foram fatores de risco para óbito. CONCLUSÕES: LRA e histoplasmose disseminada foram os principais fatores de risco para óbito na população estudada. Distúrbios neurológicos e respiratórios, bem como níveis elevados de LDH, também estiveram associados com o aumento da mortalidade em pacientes com HIV.

Palliative care during the final week of life of older people in nursing homes: A register-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to explore the presence of symptoms, symptom relief, and other key aspects of palliative care during the final week of life among older people residing in nursing homes. METHOD: Our study employed data from the Swedish Palliative Care Register on all registered individuals aged 60 and older who had died in nursing homes during the years 2011 and 2012. Variables pertaining to monitoring and treatment of symptoms, end-of-life discussions, circumstances around the death, and the individual characteristics of deceased individuals were explored using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The most common underlying causes of death among the 49,172 deceased nursing home residents were circulatory diseases (42.2%) and dementia (22.7%). The most prevalent symptom was pain (58.7%), followed by rattles (42.4%), anxiety (33.0%), confusion (21.8%), shortness of breath (14.0%), and nausea (11.1%). Pain was the symptom with the highest degree of total relief (46.3%), whereas shortness of breath and confusion were totally relieved in 6.1 and 4.3% of all individuals, respectively. The use of valid instruments for symptom assessment was reported for pain in 12.3% and for other symptoms in 7.8% of subjects. The most prevalent individual prescriptions for injection PRN (pro re nata, according to circumstances) were for pain treatment (79.5%) and rattles (72.8%). End-of-life discussions were performed with 27.3% of all the deceased individuals and with 53.9% of their relatives. Of all individuals, 82.1% had someone present at death, and 15.8% died alone. Of all the nursing home resident deaths recorded, 45.3% died in their preferred place. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: There were large variations in degree of relief from different symptoms during the final week of life. Pain was the most prevalent symptom, and it was also the symptom with the highest proportion of total/partial relief. Other symptoms were less prevalent but also less well-relieved. Our results indicate a need for improvement of palliative care in nursing home settings, focusing on management of distressing symptoms and promotion of end-of-life discussions.

Predictors of severe pain in the immediate postoperative period in elderly patients following hip fracture surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for severe postoperative pain immediately after hip-fracture surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-four elderly patients with an acute hip fracture were admitted to the hospital during a 12-months period. All patients who entered the study answered a structured questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics, previous diseases, drug use, previous surgery, and level of education. Physical status was assessed through the American Society of Anesthesiologists' preoperative risk classification, cognitive status using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, and depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The presence of preoperative delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method was assessed during day and night shifts until surgery. Pain was measured using a numeric rating scale (NRS). An NRS ≥ 7 one hour after surgery indicated severe pain. RESULTS: Patients with elementary-level education (8 yr in school) presented a higher risk for immediate severe postoperative pain than university-educated patients (> 12 yr in school) (P < 0.05). Higher cognitive function was associated with higher postoperative pain (P < 0.01). Patients with symptoms of depression and patients with preoperative delirium presented a higher risk for severe pain (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that depression and a low level of education were independent predictors of severe pain immediately after surgery. CONCLUSION: Depression and lower levels of education were independent predictors of immediate severe pain following hip-fracture surgery. These predictors could be clinically used to stratify analgesic risk in elderly patients for more aggressive pain treatment immediately after surgery.

Fidedignidade e validade do Instrumento de Avaliação da Dor em Idosos Confusos - IADIC / Reliability and validity of the Pain Assessment Tool in Confused Older Adults - IADIC / Pretest, la fiabilidad y Validez Instrumento para la Evaluación del Dolor en Ancianos - IADIC

Trata-se de um estudo metodológico, cujo objetivo foi realizar o pré-teste e validar as propriedades psicométricas do Instrumento de Avaliação de Dor em Idosos Confusos (IADIC) no pós-operatório imediato. A amostra constituiu-se de 104 pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos em pós-operatório imediato, internados na sala de recuperação pós-operatória de um hospital geral do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados de abril a agosto de 2012. Os pacientes incluídos no estudo foram diagnosticados como confusos após aplicação do Confusion Assessment Method - CAM e possuíam idade de 71,51±8,81 anos. No pré-teste, não houve necessidade de modificações do instrumento. Ao se validar as propriedades psicométricas, a consistência interna dos itens apresentou alfa de Cronbach de 0,88 e a reprodutibilidade avaliada pelo coeficiente intraclasse foi de 0,838. A consistência interna e a reprodutibilidade conferiram validade e fidedignidade ao IADIC para o uso no Brasil.

This is a methodological study, the objective was to conduct the pre-test and validate the psychometric properties of the Pain Assessment Tool in Confused Elderly (IADIC) in the immediate postoperative period. The sample consisted of 104 patients aged 60 years and over in the immediate postoperative period, admitted to the recovery room after surgery in a general hospital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Data were collected from April to August 2012. Patients included in the study were diagnosed as confused after application of the Confusion Assessment Method-CAM and possessed age of 71.51 ± 8.81 years. In the pre-test did not require modifications of the instrument. Upon validation the psychometric properties and internal consistency showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88 and reproducibility assessed by the intraclass coefficient was 0.838. Internal consistency and reproducibility gave IADIC the validity and reliability for use in Brazil.

Se trata de un estudio metodológico, cuyo objetivo era llevar a cabo el pretest y validación de las propiedades psicométricas de la Herramienta de Evaluación del dolor en ancianos Confused (IADIC) en el postoperatorio inmediato. La muestra consistió en 104 pacientes mayores de 60 años en el período postoperatorio inmediato, ingresados en la sala de recuperación después de la cirugía en un hospital general de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Los datos fueron recogidos entre abril y agosto de 2012. Los pacientes incluidos en el estudio fueron diagnosticados como confundido después de la aplicación del Método de Evaluación de la confusión-CAM y tenían edad de 71,51 ± 8,81 años. En el pretest no requirieron modificaciones del instrumento. Al validar las propiedades psicométricas y la consistencia interna alfa de 0,88 y reproducibilidad evaluada por el coeficiente intraclase de Cronbach fue de 0,838. La consistencia interna y reproducibilidad le dieron a IADIC la validez y fiabilidad para su uso en Brasil.

[Reliability and validity of the pain assessment tool in confused older adults--IADIC]. / Fidedignidade e validade do instrumento de avaliação da dor em idosos confusos--IADIC".

This is a methodological study, the objective was to conduct the pre-test and validate the psychometric properties of the Pain Assessment Tool in Confused Elderly (IADIC) in the immediate postoperative period. The sample consisted of 104 patients aged 60 years and over in the immediate postoperative perio4 admitted to the recovery room after surgery in a general hospital of Rio Grande do Sul Brasil. Data were collected from April to August 2012. Patients included in the study were diagnosed as confused after application of the Confusion Assessment Method-CAM and possessed age of 71.51 +/- 8.81 years. In the pre-test did not require modifications of the instrument. Upon validation the psychometric properties and internal consistency showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88 and reproducibility assessed by the intmraclass coefficient was 0.838. Internal consistency and reproducibility gave IADIC the validity and reliability for use in Brazil.

[Surgical emergencies in elderly patients]. / Urgences chirurgicales chez le patient âgé.

Surgical emergencies represent a diverse combination of common and particularly severe pathologies in elderly patients. This severity is due in part to concurrent comorbidities and sometimes atypical clinical presentations, causing delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Symptom clusters in advanced cancer.

CONTEXT: Patients with advanced cancer often experience multiple concurrent symptoms. Few studies have explored symptom clusters (SCs) in this population. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to explore SCs in advanced cancer, evaluate the characteristics associated with various clusters, and determine their relationship to survival. METHODS: This study included patients in the palliative care program of the Hospital Universitario La Paz from 2003 to 2005. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and a supplement including 13 other symptoms were used to detect symptoms. Principal component analysis was performed to determine symptom relationships and compare SCs with associated parameters. RESULTS: In total, 406 patients were included, 61% men and 39% women. The median age was 66.4 (range 18-95). The most common primaries were gastrointestinal (35%), lung (25%), genitourinary (8%), breast (5%), and head and neck (5%) carcinomas. The following clusters were identified: confusion (cognitive impairment, agitation, urinary incontinence), neuropsychological (anxiety, depression, and insomnia), anorexia-cachexia (anorexia, weight loss, and tiredness), and gastrointestinal (nausea and vomiting). The presence of these SCs was influenced by primary cancer site, gender, age, and performance status. Survival was related to the number of SCs present in a given patient: zero SC, 52 days; one SC, 38 days; two SCs, 23 days; and three to four SCs, 19 days; P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Different SCs can be identified in patients with advanced cancer. These SCs are influenced by primary cancer site, gender, age, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and they can have prognostic value.

Is the chest x-ray an appropriate screening exam for ER patients with AMS?

Emergency department patients with altered mental status (AMS) regularly undergo a routine chest radiograph at our institution. While there are many causes of chest pathology seen on the chest radiograph that may cause an altered mental status, it is not clear that a routine chest radiograph for these patients affects management. The goal of this study is to determine if a chest radiograph is an appropriate screening examination for AMS. This is a retrospective review of 100 consecutive patients who underwent head computed tomography for altered mental status in the emergency department and had a chest radiograph during the same visit. Of 100 patients undergoing a routine chest radiograph for AMS, 17 had findings which altered patient care, 15 of those had signs/symptoms which clearly indicated that a chest radiograph was needed, and the other two had leukocytosis. The routine performance of a chest radiograph in the setting of a patient presenting to the emergency department with altered mental status affected medical management in 17%, a modest benefit. The positive predictive value of a chest x-ray in these patients may be improved if certain symptomatologies are present.

The development and testing of the PATCOA to assess pain in confused older adults.

The purposes of this study were to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument with nonverbal cues to assess pain in confused older adults, and to describe the differences among selected demographic variables and scores on the pain and confusion measures. The Pain Assessment Tool in Confused Older Adults (PATCOA) was evaluated with 116 cognitively intact older adults undergoing orthopedic surgery. The interrater reliability for each nonverbal cue ranged from 56.5% to 100%, and the Spearman correlations were .16 to 1.00. Nine nonverbal pain cues were subjected to exploratory factor analysis. Four components explained 69.83% variance. Older adults reported significantly higher levels of pain on the visual analog scale, yet age was not related to the nonverbal pain cues. Women reported significantly more pain than did men. No significant gender differences were found regarding the display of nonverbal pain cues and the level of acute confusion, or with race and self-report of pain, display of nonverbal pain cues, or level of confusion. The development and testing of the PATCOA are initial steps that contribute to our knowledge about acute pain assessment in confused older adults.

Promoting positive outcomes for elderly persons in the hospital: prevention and risk factor modification.

The hospitalized elderly are at an increased risk for poor outcomes such as increased length of stay, readmissions, functional decline, and iatrogenic complications, as compared with other age groups. Research related to the hospitalized elderly has identified factors associated with poor outcomes. Nurses and other healthcare team members may be able to identify elderly patients at risk for poor outcomes and target modifiable factors to minimize their negative impact. Clinical experience and research validate the conclusion that multidimensional, preventive risk factor modification balanced with acute illness treatment can result in positive outcomes for elderly patients.